By Fayha Shalash – Ramallah
Israel’s Occupation of Al-Aqsa Mosque: A Threat to Palestinian Identity
Total control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem has always been a declared Israeli goal. Israeli government efforts to seize control over the holy Muslim shrines began after the occupation in 1967. Despite being under Jordan’s custodianship, Israel controls all matters related to the mosque, escalating measures to assert dominance.
Since last October, Israel has intensified campaigns against worshippers, limiting access and escalating arrests. Deportation of Palestinians aims to reduce numbers, with invasive searches and arbitrary arrests common. Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir’s racist provocations have emboldened illegal settlers to trespass and perform rituals at the mosque.
The Israeli government’s approval of funding for settler incursions signals a dangerous escalation in violating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, a central part of Palestinian identity.
– Fayha’ Shalash, a Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, graduated from Birzeit University in 2008. Contributing to online publications, she highlights the plight of Palestinians under occupation.[ad_2]
